Gambia will not consolidate its gains without robust, urgent system change - TANGO Chair

John
Charles Njie, chairman of the Association of Non-Governmental Organisations has
stated that without a strategic, robust and urgent system change, led by an
informed, committed leadership, in line with the principles of good governance
and human rights, the Gambia will not be able to consolidate the gains of its
change.

Mr.
Njie, was speaking during a press conference organised by TANGO, premised on
the theme: ‘The Gambia We Want’ to further express the decision and desire of
the people of The Gambia at the polls on 1 December 2016 – a democratic
dispensation firmly rooted in good governance and a vehicle for sustainable
development.

As
Gambians observed the first anniversary of the swearing-in of President Adama
Barrow as the country’s third president, civil society groups have converged to
call on the new administration to redouble up its efforts to strengthen the
rule of law, accountability and fight against corruption.

“It is only through these that the government
will be able to fight impunity and abuse of office and set the country on the
path for greater glory,” he noted. He said TANGO is of the view that the time
has come for the era of true change for this country.

Njie
challenged: “We therefore urge government to take advantage of the energy and
potentials of our people and optimize the international goodwill currently
directed towards our country. We tasked the new government to bring about a
complete overhaul of the bad governance system and to cleanse our body polity
and create a new foundation of a modern democratic state.”

The
initiator of the collective #Gambia Has Decided, Lawyer Salieu Taal reminded
the gathering that Gambians defiantly sent a clear message on 1st December 2016
that they voted for change.

He
said as Gambians have graduated from #Gambia Has Decided to #The Gambia We
Want, “It is time we stand united against any threat to nascent democracy.”

“As a people, we must define the values that
underpin #The Gambia We Want. Civil society groups have a huge role to play in
facilitating this important discourse and engagement between all the
stakeholders.”

Ebrima
Garba Cham, chairman of Gambia National Trade Union (GNTU), said his
organisation is very much alive to the average workers’ poor working
conditions, poor salaries incompatible to prices of basic commodities sky
rocketing on daily basis.

“Low
income earners can hardly meet their basic necessities of life,” he bemoaned.

Neneh
Cham, executive member, The Gambia Bar Association challenged government on the
lack of transparency in the appointment of judges, lack of independence in the
structure of one of the most crucial bodies in the system of legal
administration – the Judicial Services Commission and the non-adherence to
rules of constitutional amendments.

These
issues, she argued, relate directly to those foundations that hold up a democracy,
“It is important that the broader civil society join forces as one voice to
amplify the positive and ongoing engagement with this government, in the best
interest of Gambians.”